Machine for making golf balls



April .4, 1939. B. BoGosLowsKY MACHINE FOR MAKING GOLF BALLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l n.

Filed April 28, 1957 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE S.

April 4, 1939.

B. BoGosLowsKY MACHINE FOR MAKING GOLF BALLS Filed April 28,1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 l 1 l l 1 1 1 f l l l 1 t 1 I l l 1 1 l l l 1 l I f l I l 1 1 1 1 l f 1 f 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 I l I l l l l a I l 1 1 1 I I 1 l l l l l l 1 l 1 1 l r INVENTO Patented Apr. 4, y1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE MACHINE FOR MAKING GOLF BALLS Boris Bogoslowsky, New York, N. Y.

Application April 28, 1937, Serial No. 139,359

IZClaims.

This invention relates to machines for making golf balls, and particularly to machines for winding a ball body without the use of the usual core, as described in my copending application for Letters Patent Serial N. 122,957, led January 29,

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of simple construction for carrying out the method set forth in said copending applica-` tion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, shown partly in section to better illustrate the construction and operation thereof.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig- Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of machine.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a mandrel.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comao prises a shaft I mounted for rotation in suitable bearings in the casing 2. The said shaft I carries a pulley 3 by means of which the shaft may be rotated by any suitable source of power. One end of the shaft I projects through the wall of the casing, and is recessed axially and internally threaded at 4 to receive the end of a mandrel 5 such as a rod or wire on which the ball 6 is wound. The other end of the mandrel 5 is supported in a suitable bearing in the standard l,

which said bearing is aligned axially with the shaft I.

The strand of elastic material such as the rubber thread or tape I0 from which the ball is wound is fed to the ball from the spool II over a pair of friction rollers I2 and thence over guide roller I3, hereinafter referred to occasionally as a feed point. As shown in Figure 2, two rubber threads or tapes I0 and III' may be fed simultaneously from two separate spools IIl and II', in

which case, of course, additional friction rollers I2 and an additional guide roller I3' are provided. The friction rollers I2 and I2 may be of any suitable design to apply the required tension to the rubber thread as the ball is wound.

Means are provided for oscillating the rollers or feed points I3 and I3' substantially longitudinally of the axis of the mandrel 5, in order to vary the angle of incidence between the strand and the mandrel.' For this purpose the said rollers are mounted on levers I4 and I4', fulcrumed on the pins I5 and I5' respectively. 'I'he lower ends of levers I4 and I 4' are pivoted to rods I6 and I 6' respectively, which said rods are slidably mounted in fixed standards I I and I6 and I'I and I8' respectively. Rods I6 and I 6 carry rollers I9 and I9' which ride in cam track 20 in drum 2i, so that as the drum is rotated, the rods I6 and I6 are oscillated in opposite directions and levers I4 and I4 and rollers I3 and I3 are oscillated in opposite directions.

The drum 2| is fixed to shaft 23 mounted in suitable bearings, and the shaft 23 is rotated by means of sprocket 24 connected by chain 25 to sprocket 26 mounted on shaft I. For reasons explained in my said copending application, the sprocket 24 is slightly larger than sprocket 26 so that shaft 23 rotates slightly more slowly than shaft I. As a result the period of each complete oscillation of the levers I4 and I 4' will be slightly longer than the time required for the shaft I to rotate through 360,l and the period of each half oscillation will be slightly longer than the time required for the shaft I to rotate through 180.

The cam track 20 is so formed as to provide a dwell by the levers I4 and I 4' at each terminus of their oscillation, said dwell continuing during a portion of the rotation of the shaft 23.

Thus, during one complete rotation of vthe yshaft I from the position shown in Figure 1, rod I6 moves to the right, carrying with it the lower end of lever I4, the lever pivoting around pin I5 to move roller I3, the feed point, to the left. 'I'hen l follows a dwell, the lever I4 and roller I3 remaining stationary while shaft I and the ball continue to rotate. 'I'hen rod I6 moves to the left carrying with it the lower end of lever I4, and roller I3 moves to the right. 'I'hen follows another dwell while the ball continues to rotate, and finally rod I6 and lever I4 move back toward initial position, but do not quite reach initial position due to the fact that shaft 23 rotates more slowly than shaft I. As a result, crossings oi' successive convolutions of the thread or tape are spaced from one another.

Means are also provided for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the rollers I3 and I3',

bracket 3|. slidably mounted in the sleeve 32. A pin 33 passes through the shank 34 of the bracket, which said pin is engaged by the -bifurcated end 35 of lever 36, which is fulcrumed on the pin 31 mounted on the casing. It will be obvious that ifl the lever 36 is moved about pivot 31, the position of the fulcrum pins I and I5' will be moved and the amplitude of oscillation of the feed points will be varied.

In order to move the lever 36, the said lever is connected to a nutv 38 which rides on the threaded shaft 39 mounted for rotation in bearings 40 and 4I. Thus when shaft 39 rotates in one direction, the nut 38 moves upwardly and when the shaft 39 rotates in the opposite direction the nut moves downwardly,v in each case moving the lever 36.

Means are also provided for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 39,

20 but in connection with the description thereof,

25 the size of the wound ball increases from substantially zero diameter to the required size. During the early stages of winding, it is desirable that the maximum amplitude of oscillation of the feed points be relatively short. It is also desirable that 80 the period of variation of amplitude from one maximum or minimum amplitude to the next succeeding maximum or minimum amplitude should also be short. On the other hand, it is desirable that as the ball grows larger, the maximum amplitude of oscillation of the feed points should increase, and it is also desirable that the period oi.' variation of amplitude should also increase. Means are provided, therefore, for varying the extent of successive maximum amplitudes and also for varying the period between successive maximum amplitudes of oscillation of the feed points as the ball increases in size.

Referring again to Figure 1, shaft 39 carries a bevel gear 43 which meshes constantly with bevel gears 44 and 45 rotating loosely on shaft I. Clutches 46 and 41 are splined to shaft I, and their bearings 48 and 49 are mounted in bracket 5I, the said clutches being spaced so as to engage gears 44 and 45 selectively. That is, as shown in Figure l, clutch 41 is in engagement with gear4 45, and clutch 46 is disengaged from gear 44. If bracket 5I moves to the right, clutch 46 engages gear 44 and clutch 41 disengages gear 45. As will be understood, such movement of the bracket 5I will cause a reversal in the direction of rotation of shaft 39.

Pivotally mounted on the casing v2 is a member 52 having a plurality of arms, the arms 53 and 54 being positioned to engage a lug 55 extending downwardly from the bracket 5I, the arm 56 being positioned to engage a lug 51 extending outwardly from nut 38, and the arm 58 being positioned to engage the teeth 59 of rack 68. As shown in Figure 5, the rack 60 is mounted near one edge of a plate 60a. Near the opposite edge of said plate are mounted spaced flanges 60h and 68e forming a channel therebetween for the re-I ception of spring pressed balls 66. 'I'hese mem-Q bers have a slidingflt in the holder formed by two vertically extending angle irons 65, 65a secured to the side wallof the casing in any suitable man-5 ner. Connected to the member 52 at point 6I is one end of a spring 62 having its other. end connected to the casing at point 63, the point 6I being so located that movement of the member tion rollers from a spool as before.

52 as hereinafter described causes the spring to move across the pivot point 64 so as to urge the member 52 in either of two directions.

With the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 1 and assuming that winding has just begun, the lug 51, engaging arm 56 rotates member 52 on its pivot 64 until the /spring moves across the pivot point, whereupon the member 52 is snapped around by the spring, causing arm 53 to engage lug 55 to move bracket 5I to the right, thus engaging clutch 46 and disengaging clutch 45, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 39. At the same time, arm 58 is caused to engage the upper tooth of rack 60.

'Ihe reversal of rotation of shaft 39 now causes nut 38 to rise until it engages the lower end of the rack 60. As upward motion continues the rack slides upwardly in its holder 65, 65a'and eventually the spring 62 snaps member 52 in counter-clockwise direction to again reverse the direction of rotation of shaft 39. It will be noted, however, that rack 60 remains in elevated position, being held there by spring pressed balls 66. Consequently, the next clockwise movement of member. 52 will cause arm 58 to engage the next lower tooth of the rack, and each subsequent clockwise movement will cause a lower tooth to be engaged. This permits the nut 38 and consequently the lever 36 and pins I5 and I 5' tomove through progressively increasing amplitudes before reversal takes place, and consequently varies both the extent and the period oi' variation of amplitude of oscillation of the feed points. If the rack reaches its uppermost position before winding is entirely completed, the winding continues with constant variation of amplitude, the arm 58 engaging the upper surface of the lug 61. Upon completing the winding of a ball the rack 60 should be restored to its lowest position before beginning to wind another ball.

If desired, a spring finger may be secured to the standard 1 in position to engage the periphery of the'ball when the ball has reached its required diameter. The finger acts as a brake to restrain the` rotation of the ball and causes the mandrel 5 to be unscrewed from the shaft I so that the ball may be easily removed.

The mandrel 5 is preferably of the type illustrated in Figure 6, having a weakened portion 1I at the point where the winding is begun. After the winding is completed, the mandrel may be easily broken at its weakened portion by twistingA the opposite ends in opposite directions, whereupon the two halves of the-mandrel may be easily extracted from the ball, the compressive forces created in winding the ball being such as to assist the extraction. y

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, instead of oscillating the feed points with respect to the ball, the ball is oscillated with respect to a fixed feed point or points. But in this form of the invention, as in that previously described, means are provided for varying the amplitude of the oscillation, and means are also provided for varying the extent and the period of variation of amplitude of oscillation.

` Thus, referring to `Figures. 3 and 4, a fixed standard is provided carrying a roller 16 providing a feed point for the rubber thread or tape, it being understood that the thread or tape is led to the roller 'I6 over suitable tensioning fric- It will also be understood that a second standard and roller may be provided, although not illustrated, so

that a plurality of threads or tapes may be wound simultaneously. Many parts of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are the same as those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and in such cases, similar reference nume-:rale are applied.

'I'he shaft I is rotated as before, but is provided with an extension 'I1 which is splined to the shaft l at the joint 18 so that the extension 11 rotates with the shaft I, but is permitted to oscillate longitudinally of the shaft l while rotating therewith. Mounted on the extension 11 is a ball bearing 'I9 having its inner race way provided with pins 80 which engage a bracket 8l. T'he said bracket forms a lever fulcrumed on the pin 82 mounted in the upper end of rod 83 which is slidably mounted in the sleeve 84 fixed to the casing. The lower end of the bracket or lever 8| is pivotally connected to the rod I6 and is oscillated by rotation of the drum 2| as before. It will be apparent that such oscillation of the lever 8l about the fulcrum pin 82 will cause the' shaft extension 11, together with the mandrel 5 and the ball 6 to be oscillated. Secured tothe rod 83 is a pin 85 which is engaged by the blfurcated end 35 of the lever 36.

The lever 36 is operated precisely as before to move the rod 83 to change the position of the furcrum pin 82 and thus vary the amplitude of oscillation of the shaft 1l. Likewise, the other mechanisms, includingthe shaft 39,' the member 52, the rack 60 and connected parts serve as before to vary the extent andthe period of variation of amplitude of oscillation.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, and means for producing successive relative oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guid'e means such that the. period of each complete oscillatory movement is slightly longer than the period of each complete revolution of the mandrei.

2. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, means for producing successive relative oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guide means to vary the angle of incidence between said strand and said mandrel, and means to vary the amplitude lof said successive oscillatory movements continuously during the winding operation between successive maximum and minimum amplitudes.

3. In a machine for Winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, means for producing successive relative oscillatory move-.

, ments between said mandrel and said guide means to vary the angle of incidence between said strand and said mandrel, means to vary the amplitude of said successive oscillatory movements continuously during the winding operation between successive maximum and minimum amplitudes, and means to vary the period between successive maximum amplitudes of said oscillatory movements.

5. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be Wound on said mandrel, means for producing successive relative oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guide means to vary the angle of incidence between said strand and said mandrel, means to vary the amplitude of said successive oscillatory movements continuously during the winding operation between successive maximum and minimum amplitudes, and means to vary the extent of successive maximum amplitudes and also to vary the period between successive maximum amplitudes of said oscillatory movements.

.6. In a machine for winding golf balls, ln combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, a cam, means for rotating said cam ata rate slower than that at which said mandrel is rotated, and means oscillated by said cam, and connected to said mandrel to oscillate said mandrel with respect to said guide means.

'1. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, means for producing successive relative oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guide means such that the period of each complete oscillatory movement is slightly longer than the means such that the period of each Acomplete oscillatory movement is slightly longer than the period of each complete revolution of the mandrel, means to vary the amplitude of said successive oscillatory movements continuously during the winding operation between successive maximum and minimum amplitudes, and means to vary the extent of successive maximum amplitudes of said oscillatory movements.

9. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic ma terial to be wound on said mandrel, means for producing'successive relative oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guide means such that the period of each complete oscillatory moments isv slightly longer than the period of each complete revolution of the mandrel, means to vary the amplitude of said successive oscillatory movements continuously during the winding operation between. successive maximum and minimum amplitudes, and means to vary the period between successive maximum amplitudes of said oscillatory movements.

10. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel having a weakened portion intermediate its length, means for rotating said mandrel, means for guiding a strand of elastic n said shaft and mandrel, and means for engaging the periphery of the ball when it has reached the desired diameter to brake the rotation of said mandrel, whereby the mandrel is unscrewed from said shaft.

12. In a machine for winding golf balls, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means for`guiding a strand or elastic material to be wound on said mandrel, means for producing successive relative l oscillatory movements between said mandrel and said guide j means such that the period oi' each complete oscillatory movement is slightly longer than the period of each complete revolution of the mandrel, means to vary the amplitude of said successive oscillatory movements, and means to vary the extent of successive maximum amplitudes and also to vary the period between successive maximum amplitudes of said oscillatory movements.

BORIS BOGOSLOWSKY. 

